UMBC Sweeps Saturday's Baseball Doubleheader

BOX ONE  I  BOX TWO

BALTIMORE – The University at Albany baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon against the UMBC Retrievers, falling 17-1 in game one and 6-5 in eight innings in the nightcap. The Great Danes are now 13-25 on the season and 6-10 in the America East, while UMBC improved to 29-16 overall and 12-8 in conference play.

In the series opener, the hosting Retrievers' offense caught fire, knocking 19 hits, including two home runs and seven doubles.

UMBC scored one run in the second inning on Nick Naumann's solo homer and Anthony Gatto added a two-run homer in the third, as the Retrievers tacked on three runs for an early 4-0 head start.

UMBC put the game out of reach, scoring five runs on five hits in the fifth, two runs on three hits in the sixth, and six runs on five hits in the seventh for a 17-0 advantage.

UAlbany put its lone run on the board in the ninth, as Matt Hinchy led off with a double to right-center and Garrett Longhurst singled through the right side, plating pinch runner Karson Canaday.

Starter Brendan Ryan (1-5) took the loss, as the Danes used five pitchers in the contest.

UMBC's Matt Chanin (5-1) earned the win, allowing four hits in seven scoreless innings, while striking out seven.

Offensively, UAlbany totaled six hits led by Hinchy's 2-for-4 effort.

In the nightcap, the Retrievers struck first again, scoring on a sacrifice fly in the second.

However, the Great Danes answered with two unearned runs in the third, as Alex Lushkevich drew a leadoff walk and Craig Lepre reached on a fielding error. After Will Miller's bunt single, Lushkevich crossed the plate on another miscue, and Lepre came in to score on Shawn Blake's infield groundout.

UMBC regained the lead in the fifth, taking advantage of four walks and two hits to plate four runs for a 5-2 advantage.

However, UAlbany battled back, scoring a pair of runs in the sixth on Brendan Behan's two-run single with two outs that brought in Blake and Trevor DeMerritt.

Down to their final at-bats, the Great Danes tied the ballgame, as Luskevich drew a leadoff walk, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error on a dropped third strike, sending the game to extras.

In the eighth, the Great Danes loaded the bases with no outs, but reliever Denis Mikush logged three straight strikeouts to escape the jam.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Retrievers came away with the victory, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a bunt single. Kevin Lachance's single to short served as the game-winner, giving UMBC a 6-5 victory.

Reliever Joey Moore (3-2) took the loss, allowing a run and three hits in 1.2 innings. Starter Stephen Woods tossed the opening 5.1 frames, allowing five runs and four hits, while striking out four.

Mikush (4-2) earned the win, hurling the final two frames. He relieved starter Conrad Wozniak who was credited with two earned runs and seven hits in six innings.

At the plate, UAlbany totaled nine hits led by Miller's 2-for-4 performance.

Sunday's series finale will begin at 12 p.m. at Alumni Field.